Combined chair and couch.



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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No. 795,565. PATENTED JULY 25, 1905.

S. A. WALKER & I'. BENNETT.

COMBINED CHAIR AND COUGH.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SEBET 2.

Q )Even tors u f .MM iff/M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SHERIDAN A. IVALKER, OF NEI/V YORK, AND FREDERICK BENNETT, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEV YORK, ASSIGNORS TO THE HALE AND KILBURN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENN- SYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN SYLYANIA.

COMBINED CHAIR AND COUCH Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1905.

Application flled February 19, 1903. Serial N0- 144,172.

To all whom, it' rntty concern:

Be it known that we, SHERIDAN ANVALKER, residing in the borough of Manhattan, city of New York` and FREDERICK BENNETT, residing at Long Island City, State of NewJYork, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and uset'ul Improvements in a Combined Chair and Couch, of which the following is a description.

The object of the present invention is to provide an article of furniture which -may be converted into a chair or a couch at will.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction capable of several adjustments in one or both of the two general positions of the parts.' Vith respect to that position in which the article is capable of utilization as a chair the back may be given one inclination, corresponding to that common in arm-chairs, or another, corresponding to that common in the well-known Morris chairs. Again, the seat is provided with an extension which is similarly capable of adjustment so as to ei'ect practically an eXtension ot' the seat in one position and in another to assume the inclination common in steamerchairs. With respect to that position otl the parts in which the article is capable of utilization as a couch or lounge the bearing-surface is composed of the seat proper and its extension above referred to, together with the back, two or all three of these sections lying' in the same plane, and that portion of the framework utilized for arm-rests when the article is employed as a chair is adjusted to a new position in which it constitutes a continuation of the frame of the couch or lounge.

In carrying out the invention we employ a frame in which the back, the seat proper, and its extension are adjustably supported. This frame is made, generally speaking, in two parts, adjustable with reference to each other and capable of assuming either of two positions, in one ot' which the upper section of the frame constitutes arm-rests, (when the device is to be used as a chain) and in the other or' which such upper section constitutes, in effect, a continuation otl the main supporting-frame, (when the device is to be utilized as a couch.) In this frame is adjustably mounted, as above stated, a flexible bearing device, here shown as made in three connected sections, which in practice are preferably upholstered. One of these sections forms the chair-back under one condition of adjustment and when so used is capable of being inclined at different angles relatively to the seat proper. Another section constitutes the seat proper and is capable of adjustment in a horizontal plane, or substantially a horizontal plane, whether used as a chairseat or part of a chair-seat or as a sectionof the couch. The third section is, in efect, as above stated, a continuation of the seat proper ,and is adjustable both longitudinally and vertically for the purposes hereinafter described.

In the device herein illustrated and described, but to which the invention isnotspeciiically limited, provision is made for the adjustment of the parts into four positions, in each of which the device may be utilized as a chair` and into two positions, in which the device rnay be utilized as a couch. The iirst of the four positions above referred to is that common to the parts of an arm-chair of usual construction,the seat being substantially horizontal and the back slightly inclined. In the second position the parts more closely resemble those of the well-known Morris chair, the seat being substantially horizontal and the back having a substantial rearward inclination. In the third position the seat and back occupy the same relation as in the second position, but the third section, above referred to as constituting, in effect, an eX- tension of the seat proper, is extended, but inclined downwardly at its distant end, in which position the parts resemble those of a steamer` chair. In the fourth position the parts occupy substantially the same relation as in the third, the extension, however, being elevated at its distant end and supported in this position, the device then corresponding closely to the well-known invalid-chair. In one of the positions in which the device is capable of utilization as a lounge or couch the back, the seat proper, and the extension occupy the same plane, the upper adjustable section of the supporting-frame being moved to its alternative position and thereA serving as an eXtension of the supporting' medium Jfor the upholstered sections above referred to. In the other lounge or couch position the back section is slightly elevated to form a rest for the head and upper portion of the body.

ln the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the invention, certain parts, to which attention will hereinafter be called, being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the main portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. l. Both of these views illustrate the device in the form in which it may be utilized as an ordinary arm-chair. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating the device extended to the position in which it may be utilized as a lounge or couch. Fig. 4 is a detail view illustrating the means employed for locking the back-section and the extension-section together where the device is to be employed as an arm-chair, as illustrated in Figs. l and 2. Fig. is a vertical section of the end portion of the extension-section, showing the leg-operating means. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are side elevations illustrating three of the four positions to which the parts may be adjusted where the device is to be employed as a chair. Of the four positions above referred to but one (that illustrated in Fig. l) is not shown in this series of views.

Referringl tothe drawings, in which similar lettersI denote corresponding parts, the main frame A comprises two side members (I, (t, preferably connected near their lower ends by a cross-section e and a vertical section rf. The adjustable portion of the supportingframe comprises side members A A', hinged at t3 'to the side members a of the main frame A. The side members of said adjustable frame are preferably connected by cross-bar a", in the upper portion of which are mounted sheaves al). About midway between its ends the cross-bar @i may be provided with a handle a, by means of which the adjustable section of the frame may be readily moved to the position in which it is illustrated in Fig. 3.

B designates the back-section. This, as well as the seat-section C and extension-section D, are preferably formed upon a spring-frame provided with suitable upholstery. Upon each of its vertical edges the back-section B is provided with a sheave or stud which coacts with a guide-groove formed in each of the side members A/ A/ of the adjustable member of the seat-frame. These guide-grooves are arranged at an angle to the vertical throughout the greater portion of their length, from which point on to the edge of the side members A' of the frame they incline still more at an angle to the vertical, the purpose of which will be presently described. Each of the vertical edges of the back-section B is also provided with a depending arm B, provided at its lower end with a sheave or stud L2, which coacts with the guide-groove 723, formed in the inner face of each of the side members a of the main supporting-frame A. Each of these guide-grooves comprises first a substantially vertical portion t", the slightlyinclined portion f, and the sharply-inclined portion the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

The seat-section proper, C, is hinged at 0 to the back-section B. Each of its side edges is provided with a ledge or shelf c', coacting with asheave c2, supported upon the inner face of one of the side members a of the main supporting-frame. lf desired, a vertical sheave c3 may also be carried by said side members to facilitate the movement of the seat-section proper in said frame.

The extension-section D is hinged at (Z to the seat-section C. lts extreme end is provided with a stud CZ', having an enlarged head cl2. Said stud and head eoact with an opening (Z3, having' an extension (Z4, both formed in the lower end of an arm d5, secured to and depending from the rear surface of the backsection D. rl`he mechanism just described constitutes a lock by means of which the eXtension-section D may be held securely in the position in which it is illustrated in Fig. l, the enlarged head Zzhaving been passed through the opening Z3 in the arm Z5 and the stud d having been permitted to descend therein, so as to secure the parts against displacement. To release this locking device, it is only necessary to press the extension-section D upwardly and the arm CZ rearwardly, whereupon the enlarged head Z2 will be free to pass through the opening (Z3.

The arm-chair position of the device is illustrated in Fig. l. In this position the backsection B is slightly inclined, the seat-section C is substantially horizontal, and the eXtension-section D is folded below the seat-section and locked to the arm (Z5. The back-section is held as against rearward movement both by the hinges c and by the sheaves which coact with the guide-grooves The Morris-chair position of the device is illustrated in Fig. 6. Here the back-section B has been released from the extension-section D and moved backwardly until it rests against the sheaves a", carried by the crossbar a". This movement has caused the sheaves 7/2 to move forwardly in the slightly-inclined portion Zf of the guide-groove b3, and both the seat-section C and extension-section D have been moved forward beyond the position which they occupied in the arm-chair position. (Illustrated in Fig. l.)

The steamer-chair position of the device is illustrated in Fig. 7. Here the back-section B and seat-section C occupy the same relation as in the position last described. The latter, however, has been sufficiently raised upon the hinge c to permit the extension-section D to be drawn from under said seat-section and extended, the free end thereof resting upon the floor.

The invalid-chair position is illustrated in Fig. 8, the only change here shown being that the free end of the extension-section D has been raised so as to bring said section into the same plane as the seat-section C. rIhe free end of the extension-section D is maintained in this position by means of the legs or supports E. These are here shown as supported upon pivots e, mounted in the inside of the extension-section D, springs e being employed beyond the pivotal points and therefore exerting a tendency to extend the legs E to their supporting position, as shown in Fig. 8. The latch F, with which coacts a flat spring f, serves to. hold the legs E in the position in which they are shown in Fig. 5. Said latch, however, is provided with a iinger-piecef, which on being pressed inwardly permits the coil-spring e/ to extend the legs E to their operative positions.

Finally, the couch position of the device is illustrated in Fig. 3. ln order to bring the parts to this position, the adjustable upper member of the supporting-frame is swung upon the hinge a3, this, through the sheaves a5, the sheaves b, and guide-grooves moving forward the back-section B as well as the sections C and D. After the upper member has been swung sufficiently far to permit the sheaves 7) to leave the guide-grooves b the movement of said sections ceases, and said upper member is passed entirely over the back-section B and brought to rest in the position in which it is illustrated in Fig. 3. As the sections B, C, and D move forward the sheaves Z22, carried by the arms b', ride up the slightly-inclined portions b5 of the guidegrooves b3 and then downwardly in the sharply-inclined portions b5. The upper end of the back-section B is then depressed, the sheaves thereof entering the vertical portions L* of the guide-grooves 3. As said section B assumes a horizontal the seat-section C is moved rearwardly because of the fixed position of the sheaves 56. The back-sectionB is secured in such horizontal position by the ooaction of a pin G and socket g, the former being carried by the vertical cross-section a2 of the supporting-frame, and the latter being formed in the rear face of the back-section B. The locking mechanism between the sections B and D having previously been released, the outer end of the seat-section C is then elevated to permit the withdrawal of the extension-section D, and when both assume the same plane they are depressed until the seatsection C rests upon the sheaves or ledges C' and the extension-section D upon the crossbar af, thereby completing the horizontal surface from end to end of the lounge. By means of the finger-pieces f f' the legs E E are then moved to operative position. In this adjustment of the various parts the supporting-frame is practically continuous from end to end and each section of the upholstered bearing-surface is adequately supported thereby.

An alternative couch position is indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3. To bring the parts to this relation, the back-section Bl is slightly raised to free it from the pin G and all three sections drawn to the right, thereby bringing the sheaves b directly under the vertical portions b4 of the guideways L3. The back-section B is then raised so that said sheaves shall pass through the said portion b4 and all three sections again pressed rearwardly until the sheaves seat themselves in recesses or notches a7, formed in the upper surface of the side members o of the main frame A. In this position, as will be seen, theback-section B serves as a support for the upper portion of the body of the occupant of the couch.

What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An article of furniture having a main supporting-frame, an auxiliary frame hinged near its forward end tothe forward end of said main frame, and adapted to be swung to an operative position in advance of said main frame, a back-section and a seat-section, the latter supported by said main frame, and means carried by said auxiliary frame for contributing to the support of said back-section, substantially as described.

2. An article of furniture having a main supporting-frame, an auxiliary frame hinged near its forward end to the forward end of the main frame and adapted in chair position to directly overlie said main frame, and in couch position vto assume a place in advance of said main frame, a back-section and a seatsection movably supported in said frames, said seat-section upon said main frame, and means for moving said sections by the operation of the auxiliary frame upon its hinge, substantially as described.

3. An article of furniture having a main supporting-frame, and an auxiliary frame normally overlying the same and hinged at its forward end to the forward end of said main frame and a back-section, a seat-section and an extension-section underlying said seat-section, all of said sections having sliding connection with said frames, and means for moving all of said sections by the movement of said auxiliary frame upon its hinge, substantially as described.

el.. An article of furniture having a main supporting-frame, an auxiliary frame normally overlying the same and hinged at its forward end to the forward end of said main frame, a seat-section and means for supporting the same, a back-section and means, including sheaves and guide-grooves, for adjustably supporting said back-section in said frames in either horizontal or inclined position, substantially as described.

5. An article of furniture having a main supporting-frame, an auxiliary frame normally overlying the same and hinged at its forward end to the forward end of said main frame, a seat-section and extension-section and means for supporting the same, abacksection and means, including' sheaves and guide-grooves, for adjustably mounting' said back-section in said frames in either horizontal or inclined position, substantially as described.

6. An article of furniture having a main supporting-frame, an auxiliary frame adjustable relatively thereto, a seat section and means for supporting` the same, a back-section and cooperating mechanism between said back-section and said auxiliary frame, including guide-grooves and sheaves coacting therewith, substantially as described.

7. An article of furniture having a main supporting-frame, an auxiliary frame adjustable relatively thereto, a scat section and means for supporting the same, a back-section connected to said seat-section and coi'perating mechanism between said back-section and said auxiliary frame, including guide-grooves and sheaves coacting therewith, substantially as described.

8. n article of furniture having a main supporting-frame, an auxiliary frame having arm-rests and hinged near its forward end to the forward end of said main frame, a seatscction, an extension-section and means for supporting the same, a back-section an d means, including sheaves and guide-grooves, for adjustably mounting said back-section in said frames, substantially described.

i). An article of furniture having a main supporting-frame, an auxiliary frame having arm-rests and hinged at its forward end to the forward end of said main frame, a seat-section and a subjacent extension-section and .means for supporting said sections, a backsection, means, including' sheaves and guidegrooves, for adjustably mounting' said backsections in said frame, and a locking device for said extension-section, substantially as described.

10. An article of furniture having a main supporting-frame, an auxiliary frame having arm-rests and hinged at its forward end to the forward end of said main frame, a seat-section and a subjacent extension-section and means for supporting' said sections, a back-section, means, including sheaves and guide-grooves, for adjustably mounting said back-sections in said frame, and a locking device for said extension-section and said back-section, substantially as described.

11. An article of furniture having a main supporting -frame and an auxiliary frame hinged at its forward end to the forward end of said main frame, said auxiliary frame being provided with arm-rests, a substantially continuous flexible support carried by said frames, and having sliding connection therewith, said support and said frames being adaptable in one position of adjustment to form a chair and in another to forma couch, substantially as described.

12. An article of furniture having a main supporting-frame and an auxiliary frame provided with arm-rests and hinged near its forward end to the forward end of said main frame, a substantially continuous Y[iexible support carried by said frames, and having sliding connection therewith, adjustable connections between said support and said frames and means for adjusting' said support and frames to chair position and to couch position, substantially as described.

13. An article of furniture having a main supporting-frame, and an auxiliary frame normally overlying the same and hinged at its forward end to the forward end of said main frame, a flexible support, guideways in said main and auxiliary frames, and sheaves carried by said support and coacting with said guideways, substantially as described.

14. An article of furniture having a main supporting-frame, an auxiliary frame normally overlying the same and hinged near its forward end to the forward end of said main frame, a iiexible support, a main-frame guideway, a sheave carried by said support and coacting therewith, an auxiliary-frame guideway and a sheave also carried by said support and coacting with said main-frame guideway and said auxiliary-frame guideway, substantially as described.

15. An article of furniture having a main supporting-frame, and an. auxiliary frame normally overlying the same and hinged near its forward end to the forward end of said main frame, a flexible support, guideways in both said frames and two sheaves carried by said support, one coacting with one of said guideways, and the other with both of said guideways, and means for adjusting said auxiliary frame and thereby automatically moving said support, substantially as described.

16. An article of furniture having a main supporting-frame, and an auxiliary frame overlying the same and hinged at its forward end to the forward end of said main frame, a seat-section, a back-section connected with said seat-section, sliding connections between said sections and said frames, and means for supporting said back-section horizontally and at different angles relatively to said seat-section, substantially as described.

17. An article of furniture having a main supporting-frame, and an auxiliary frame normally overlying the same and hinged near its forward end to the forward end of said main frame, said main frame being provided with a guideway having a vertical portion and a connected inclined portion. and seat and back sections having sheaves coacting with said guideway, substantially as described.

18. An article of furniture having a supporting-frame in two sections, one normally overlying the other and both said sections being hinged together at their forward ends, guideways in each of said sections, a flexible support and sheaves carried thereby and coacting' with one of said guideways in one adjustment of said article, and with another guideway in another adjustment of said article, substantially as described.

19. An article of furniture having a twopart supporting-frame, one part being hinged near its forward end to the forward end of the other and normally overlying such other, guideways in the overlying part extending to the lower edge of such part, a iiexible support carried by said two-part frame, and sheaves carried by said support and coacting with the guideways in said overlying part of said frame, substantially as described.

20. An article of furniture having a main frame, and an auxiliary frame normally overlying the same and hinged at its forward end 

